GARDAÍ have made twelve arrests over recent days in relation to the series of mass public order incidents that took place on the streets of Galway city since last Friday – this figure is expected to rise to 20 by this coming weekend.

One of those arrested is the driver of the black Ford Focus car which ploughed into two people at the Galway Shopping Centre on the Headford Road last Sunday evening, catapulting one of them into the air – both were hospitalised but escaped with non-life-threatening injuries.

The driver of the car – understood to be a male in his early twenties – could potentially face a charge of attempted murder but is more likely to face a charge under the Road Traffic Act of creating a substantial risk of death to another person: this carries a jail term of up to seven years.

Senior Gardaí have also confirmed to the Connacht Tribune that a specialist public order unit is also being established with six guards and one sergeant, who would be ‘on call’ where trouble flashpoints occur.

Extra Gardaí – including the Armed Response Unit – have been drafted into the Galway city area over the past six days to ‘stay on top of’ the ongoing feud between two rival family factions in the city.

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